Removable leg walker

ABSTRACT

An improved, lightweight and removable leg walker is provided for stabilizing and rapidly healing lower leg injuries of a patient. The injured limb is disposed in a removable inner ankle bootie whose interior is partially covered with inflatable support bladders. While the foot is secured within the booties, it is then inserted into and additionally supported by a removable soft goods-type support. The soft goods-type support is securely attached to a walker frame by a combination of strap fasteners with Velcro attachments. Inflatable bladders are located along the inner surfaces of two strut bases and raised heel strip. A tongue portion of the soft goods-type support also includes an inflatable bladder which provides additional support to the injured limb. These inflatable bladders encourage proper circulation from the lower leg to the heart. The walker frame comprises a pair of strut bases and struts in order to prevent inversion and eversion of the ankle. The full length sole portion of the walker is novelly constructed of two halves joined together. This construction is structurally superior to other walkers and braces insofar as it costs less and weighs less than other walkers currently manufactured. The heel portion of the sole also is constructed to form a cantilever spring, shock absorbing element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to orthopaedic devices, and moreparticularly to an orthotic support for assisting in the stabilizationand proper healing of injuries to the ankle and foot, includingfractures of the tibia and/or the fibula.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Orthotic or orthopaedic devices to which the present invention relatesoperate to support and brace injured limbs, muscles, joints and bones.The term "orthosis" or "orthotic device" as used herein differs from a"prosthesis" or "prosthetic device" insofar as a "prosthesis" isgenerally defined as an artificial device used to replace a missing bodypart or limb.

It is extremely common that people, especially physically active andfrail elderly people, experience a variety of lower leg, ankle and footinjuries. For example, sprains to the calcaneofibular and anteriortabofibular ligaments often afflict a number of professional and amateurathletes.

To aid in the proper healing and treatment of these and other lower legand foot injuries it is necessary that the affected areas, as well asthe surrounding tissue, be stabilized and immobilized.

Physicians traditionally have treated, and still currently treat,injuries affecting lower leg extremities and the foot by fitting theinjured patient with the well-known, molded plaster or resin cast, whichis set around an inner cotton or gauze lining. The placement of thistype of cast around the lower leg is time consuming, heavy, and costly.

The injured limb or joint is usually swollen when the plaster or resincast is initially applied. One drawback of the traditional plaster castis that the swelling of the injured limb usually decreases soon afterthe rigid cast is fitted and set around the limb. In addition, the rangeof swelling is directly related to the position of the leg. For example,if the leg is in a position whereby the patient is standing upright, theblood flows to the bottom of the leg and foot, thus causing additionalswelling. Conversely, if the leg is positioned in a horizontal orelevated position the blood may backflow to the heart, therebydecreasing the amount of swelling. Therefore, the initial rigid cast isunable to compensate for this fluctuation of swelling and is ofteninappropriate to effectively stabilize and immobilize the injured limbor joint once the swelling has been reduced, and a second cast must beapplied in order to subsequently conform to the less swollen portion ofthe anatomy.

In addition, it is virtually impossible to bathe in the normal mannerwhile wearing a plaster cast. In order to bathe in a plaster cast, onemust prevent any part of the cast from becoming moist since wetting thecast will make the cast soft and somewhat mushy. Furthermore, if thecast becomes wet or moist, the cast tends to fall apart.

Another disadvantage of the plaster or resin cast is that these types ofcasts cause the skin covered by the cast to become irritated, flaky anddry, thus, resulting in an uncomfortable itching sensation which oftencannot be reached and relieved.

Also, the rigid nature of the cast and its relatively tight fit,inhibits proper circulation of blood to and from the muscles of the legresulting in the affected limb becoming atrophied and temporarilydysfunctional. If atrophying occurs, the patient must often undergoextensive rehabilitative treatment under the supervision of a physicianor physical therapist in order to exercise and strengthen the atrophiedlimb. Rehabilitation therapy, although necessary, is a costly and timeconsuming procedure.

Many devices and orthotics relating to lower leg and ankle injuries havebeen proposed as an alternative to plaster casts in an effort to eithercut down on the weight, decrease the bulkiness or improve the comfortfor the user. Certain brace or casts of this type are set forth in theprior art. While, in whole or in part, these patented orthopaedic castsand/or braces claim to be lightweight or portable or an improvement overthe traditional plaster casts, all of these devices, in fact, leaveconsiderable room for improvement. For example, the Mauldin "Lower LegBrace," U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,169, shows a removable ankle brace. Thisbrace, however, must be Worn at all times, except while bathing, duringthe healing process of the injured limb. Therefore, all of the dirt thatis acquired while wearing this brace is brought into bed since thepatient must wear this brace while he or she is asleep. Wearing thisbrace while asleep may also cause considerable uncomfortableness due toits bulkiness.

Another disadvantage of the Mauldin '169 brace is that the sole isdesigned and constructed in such a way that it unnecessarily requiresextra material and is relatively high in cost and heavy. The Mauldin'169 brace also fails to provide a heel-strike portion capable ofsuccessfully absorbing shock to the afflicted limb.

Another device which attempts to immobilize and protect injured limbs orjoints is the Johnson, "Orthopedic Apparatus," U.S. Pat. No. 3,955,565.The Johnson '565 device is essentially comprised of a pair ofcomplimentary half-shell members having a series of pneumatics disposedthroughout the interior surface of each half-shell. The half-shells aremated together, around the injured limb, and secured by VELCRO fasteningstraps. Subsequently, the air bags or pneumatics are inflated until theyconform to the shape of the limb.

A disadvantage of the device described in the Johnson '565 patent isthat the entire device must be worn to bed by the patient. Wearing thisbrace may cause considerable uncomfortableness, like the Mauldin '169patent, due to its bulkiness. In addition, as the in the Mauldin '169patent, the Johnson patent also fails to provide a means forsuccessfully absorbing shock to the injured limb while walking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, principle objectives of the present invention are toprovide a prefabricated orthotic support or leg walker which islightweight, relatively cost and material efficient, and removable foreasy use. The present invention also provides a shock absorbing elementlocated at the heel strike portion to reduce the amount of impact to theleg while walking. The leg walker set forth in the present inventionalso includes a small, lightweight and removable inner ankle "bootie"brace This ankle brace can be removed from the leg walker and wornseparately to bed. When the ankle bootie is separately worn, it iscapable of effectively stabilizing and supporting injuries to the lowerleg extremities, adjacent to the ankle, while affording the patient acomfortable night,s sleep. The ankle bootie allows the user tocomfortably sleep due to its lightweight construction. The ankle bootiemay also be easily removed from the patient's foot, thus allowing thepatient to bathe in a normal manner. In addition to satisfying theseneeds, the invention will also effectively immobilize and stabilize theafflicted limb while allowing for needed blood circulation to and fromthe lower leg, ankle and foot.

The present invention provides a new and improved and truly affordablefoot-ankle orthosis or "leg walker" which may easily be fitted aroundand removed from the injured lower leg extremity while also effectivelystabilizing the affected limb.

The full-length sole may be constructed of two halves joined along avertical plane extending from the center of the front of the sole to thecenter of the rear of the sole.

This novel sole construction results in a device which is less expensiveand requires less material to achieve the required strength than all ofthe walkers and braces disclosed in the prior art.

One embodiment of a leg walker illustrating the invention includes arigid leg walker frame with a full-length sole and strut supports. Theleg walker frame is capable of receiving a removable foam and fabricouter covering soft goods-type support member with a tongue, forwrapping around and stabilizing ankle and lower leg of the patient.Easy-to-use VELCRO fastening means are used to tightly secure the softgoods-type support around the lower leg. Another aspect of the presentinvention provides for a new and improved tapered cantilever resilientshock absorbing heel structure. The cantilever heel involves spacedupper and lower sole plates, with the rear ends of these two platesbeing spaced apart, and with the rearmost portion of the lower platebeing flexible to absorb shocks; and preferably being formed with aresilient shock absorbing insert received in between the rear ends ofthe upper and lower plates. The cantilevered resilient heel reduces theamount of shock upon impact of the injured limb when supported by thepresent walker, more so than the prior art walkers and braces.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the upper sole ofthe walker may be provided with a cushion construction which iscustomized and fitted to personally conform to each user's foot sole.

In accordance with yet another advantage of the present invention, theheel portion of the walker includes a rigid raised protective curvedstrip located above the rear of the sole and surrounding the heel of theuser. The raised strip in conjunction with the strapping system helps torestrict lateral movement of the heel of the user. The raised curvedstrip may be covered with a rubber, or foam, or other resilientmaterials to help cushion the back of the user's heel and to prevent theuser from damaging furniture if the user elevates his or her leg andrests it on the furniture, such as, for example, a coffee table top.

The walker may also include an ankle "bootie" of resilient and/orflexible material which may be received into and may be removed from thesoft goods-type outer support. The bootie provides added support to theinjured lower leg. The bootie comfortably wraps around the ankle andfoot and the adjacent lower leg, and is secured by straps. The bootieand/or the soft goods-type support also may include a pair of verticallyextending rigid splint members adjacent to the inner and outer malleoluswhich prevent flexion of the ankle. The bootie and/or the softgoods-type support may also include rigid splinting arrangement wherebytwo rigid splints are attached by a hinge member, thus allowing thepatient to remove the leg from the rigid frame of the walker and gentlyexercise a controlled range of motion (inversion and eversion). Thesplint members may be custom formed in place to conform to the patient'sanatomy.

Further, the walker may provide additional support to the affectiveareas comprising a plurality of inflatable and adjustable bladdermembers in order to provide the most therapeutically effective amountsof pressure to the affected limb as leg swelling increases or decreases.The bladders also reduce the amount of swelling of the injured joint orlimb by permitting the lower leg muscles to operate in a fashion wherebythe body fluids may be circulated to and from the lower leg and theheart.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an inner inflatablebladder may be provided which engages the skin of the patient, in thiscase, around the ankle. Alternatively, the present invention may includea dual-chamber bladder for separately receiving air and hot and coldfluids for support and therapy, respectively. Preferably the bladder hasan outer surface of a smooth stretchable knit fabric, such as a nylonand LYCRA fabric, laminated to a thin film of a plastic material, suchas urethane.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following detailed description andfrom the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a removable leg walker illustrating thepresent invention, in a secured position;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of one-half of the walker frameincluding the sole and strut base portions of the removable leg walkerwith a strut being shown detached from the strut base;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the leg walker with the softgoods-type support and the ankle bootie shown separate from the frame;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ankle bootieillustrating an inner bladder member having two chambers, one forreceiving water, with a water drain outlet, and one for receiving air.

FIG. 3B is a side cross sectional view of the bladder arrangement takenalong the line 3B--3B of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the ankle bootie showing the splint pouchconfiguration in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the ankle bootie with its straps secured and asplint removed from its pouch;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the leg walker illustrating how theankle bootie is received by the soft goods-type support;

FIG. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the sole and strut base ofthe leg walker;

FIG. 8 is an outer side view of the sole and strut base of the legwalker; . FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the sole taken along line9--9 of FIG. 8:

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the strap and buckle arrangementtaken along line 10--10 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of the foot insole cushion;

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the inner foot cushion matrix taken atthe location indicated b circle 11A of FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is a side view of an embodiment of the soft goods-type supportshowing a pouch in which a splint is received;

FIG. 13 is a side view of an embodiment of the ankle bootie showing ahinge-splint arrangement;

FIG. 14 is a side view of an embodiment of the soft goods-type supportshowing a hinge-splint arrangement; and

FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 15--15 of FIG.13 detailing the hinge-splint design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a perspectiveview of the removable leg walker 11 of the present invention, as itappears when it is secured to the leg 100 of a patient.

The leg walker 11 comprises a durable, resilient and removable foam andfabric outer covering soft goods-type support 13 which may be formed offoam material which is substantially covered with a VELCRO hookreceivable material 15 such as brushed nylon. The soft goods-typesupport 13 includes a tongue member 17 also covered with VELCRO hookreceivable material 15. While the soft goods support 13 is in an openposition as shown in FIG. 3 it is able to receive an injured lower legextremity which has been stabilized and supported by an ankle bootiemember 150, as shown in FIG. 6.

The soft goods-type support 13, with its VELCRO hook receivable material15, extends around the injured limb below the knee while leaving thetoes exposed, and the two exposed edges are securely held together by aninner portion of the soft goods-type support 13 covered with a strip ofVELCRO hook material 19, (shown in FIG. 3) extending along the inneredges of the soft goods-type support 13. The walker 11 includes a rigidframe 29 consisting of a pair of struts 21, strut bases 23, and a rigidfull-length sole 25. The frame 29 may be constructed of any rigid,lightweight material; however, it is preferred that a glass fiberreinforced nylon be used because it is relatively inexpensive,lightweight and sturdy.

The soft goods-type support 13 is received between a pair of rigidstruts which may be rigid or semi-rigid. The struts 21 are firmlyattached to a pair of strut bases 23. The strut bases 23 are integrallymolded to a rigid, full-length sole 25, and the bottom of the softgoods-type support 13 rests against the top of the sole 25, covered witha custom molded innersole cushion 200. The heel portion 111 of the softgoods-type support 13 rests adjacent to a raised heel strip 43 which ispreferably made of a rigid material. The raised, heel strip 43 extendsalong the outer perimeter of the heel portion 111 of the sole 25, withinstrut bases 23, and its height is approximately 2 inches from the uppersurface of the sole 25. A resilient support member 30 which may be abladder inflated with air or lined with any type of resilient materialsuch as a gel or foam, covers the inner surfaces of the raised heelstrip 43 and strut bases 23 and also may extend a substantial distancealong the inner surface of each strut 21.

The raised heel strip 43 serves to prevent the patient's heel fromslipping backward out of the walker 11. Additionally, the heel strip 43includes an inner and an outer resilient covering which serves toprotect both the patient from further injury and the furniture from anydamage which might otherwise result if the patient decided to rest hisheel on top of a piece of furniture, for example. Alternatively, in thepresent invention, a raised heel strip 43 may not be provided. Forexample, an adjustable or non-adjustable strap which extends around theback of the heel and which may be connected to said strut base members23 may be provided for. Also, the raised strip 43 may be entirely absentfrom the present invention.

The resilient support member 30, as shown in FIG. 3, provides additionalsupport around the heel and ankle areas of the patient's foot while heor she is wearing the walker 11.

In addition, or alternatively, the inside surface of the soft goods-typesupport 13 surrounding the heel and ankle of the patient may be providedwith a similar resilient support member 75 that is spaced by the foammaterial of support 13 from the raised heel strip 43 and strut bases 23and struts 21.

A plurality of straps 31, 33, 35, 37 and 39 are used to affix the footand the lower leg (within bootie 150 and soft goods-type support 13) tothe sole 25 and the struts 21, substantially eliminating anysubstantially detrimental flexion of the ankle or foot with respect tothe leg 100. The struts 21, also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, are slightlyflexible at the top in order to accommodate a range of leg sizes.Structurally, the struts 21 are cantilever beams that are subjected toflexure and torsion loads and are stabilized by their being affixed tothe leg 100. Straps 31, 33, 35 also shown in FIG. 3, each have a D-loop41 attached at one end. Straps 31, 33, 35 are substantially covered witha VELCRO hook receivable material 32 on one side with a relatively smallportion of VELCRO hook fabric 34 on the same side, opposite the D-loop41. The opposite side of the straps 31, 33, 35 is partially covered witha VELCRO hook fabric 36 extending from the end attached to the D-loop41. The straps 31, 33, 35 are used to secure the leg to the struts 21 byattaching the side of the straps 31, 33, 35 partially covered with theVELCRO hook fabric 36 to the soft goods-type support 13 or to a portionof the struts 21 covered with VELCRO hook receivable material 24 andpassing the loose end of each strap 31, 33, 35, without the D-loop 41,through the D-loop 41 and tightly securing the small portion of VELCROhook fabric 34 to the portion of the straps 31, 33, 35 substantiallycovered with VELCRO hook receivable fabric 32.

Strap 37 extends across the dorsum of the instep, and is used to pullthe encased foot down against the sole 25 and back against the portionof the heel 111 of the sole consisting of a raised, resilient heel strip43. This strap 37 is constructed of an elastic fabric covered on oneside with mostly VELCRO hook receivable fabric 32 and a small portion onthe loose end with VELCRO hook fabric material 34. This strap 37 issecurely connected to an integrally molded slot 45 located on one of thestrut bases 23 and passes through a second integrally molded slot 47,better shown in FIG. 3, and is folded over itself to adjustably andsecurely attach the VELCRO hook fabric end 34 with the VELCRO hookreceivable portion 32. The fastening of this strap 37 results instabilization of the foot against upward, rearward and forward motion.

FIGS. 1, 3 and 10 best show the design of the forward-most strap 39which is used to hold the forefoot in a conventional manner. The VELCROarrangements for this strap are similar to the arrangements on theelastic strap 37. The forward-most strap 39 is securely and permanentlyaffixed to a loop 42 which is, in turn, securely affixed to a U-shapedmember 61, as shown in FIG. 2. The U-shaped member 61 is preferablyconstructed from a high-strength plastic and is ultrasonically welded tothe sole 25 through a bore hole 48 formed on the side of the sole 25.

On the opposite side of the sole 25 a similar arrangement exists whereina loop 46 is secured to a second U-shaped member 63 which, in turn, isultrasonically welded through a second bore hole 48 on the side of thesole 25, except that the strap 39 is not permanently affixed to thisloop 46. Subsequently, the loose end of the strap 39 passes through theloop 46 in order to have the VELCRO portions fold back over andadjustably attach to one another.

FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view and partial exploded view ofone-half of the walker frame 29 of the leg walker 11. The strut 21 ismated and securely attached to the strut base 23 by being inserted intoa recess 51 on the inner portion of the struts base 23 which is moldedto receive the bottom portion of the struts 21. An adhesive is then usedto secure the strut 21 to the strut base 23 into its recess 51. Metalpins 53 are further used to reinforce the connection of the struts 21and their respective strut bases 23. It is preferred that the metal pinsbe approximately 1/16" in diameter and constructed of stainless steel.Furthermore, no ends of the pins should protrude and stick out of thestruts 21 or strut bases 23, as shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 9, the full-length sole assembly is comprised of twohalves 101, 103 joined along a vertical plane extending from the centerof the front to the center of the rear of the assembly. The two halves101 and 103 are permanently affixed together by connecting them withmetal pins 102. These pins 102 are preferably constructed of stainlesssteel and are approximately 1/8" in diameter. These pins 102 may beconnected to the halves 101 and 103 in a horizontal arrangement asshown, or vertically using overlapping portions of the two sole halves.In addition, an adhesive may be used to reinforce the union of boththese halves 101 and 103 or the halves 101 and 103 may be sonicallywelded together. The recesses 105, 107 on either side of the sole (shownin FIGS. 8 and 9) serve to define vertical webs 109 (shown in FIG. 7)that have been molded to extend between the upper and lower sole plates115 and 117, respectively. These vertical webs 109 extend at the outeredges of the sole in the vicinity of the strut, but are absent at theheel portion 111. The extreme toe 113 of the sole is solid, as shown inFIG. 7. Each sole half 101 and 103 exhibits continuous upper and lowerplates, 115 and 117, respectively; the upper 115 is substantially planarwhile the lower 117 has a continuous curvature. The absence of webs atthe heel 111 of the sole results in a cantileverd spring structure 127.The thin lower extension 119 is less stiff than the upper extension 121,and deflects more under load. The bottom of the sole 117 is covered by atextured rubber outersole 118.

The cantilevered spring structure 127, at the heel portion 111 of theotherwise rigid sole 25, acts as a shock-absorbing element. A cushioninginsert 125 is received in between the lower and upper extensions 119,121 at the heel, consequently increasing the energy-absorbing andenergy-return properties that occur upon striking the heel 111 against awalking surface. The cushioning insert 125 may be constructed of anyresilient and durable materials such as a rubber or a urethane or rubberfoam or a resilient bladder. The heel-strike portion of the gaittransmits the most shock to the leg; without the natural flex of theankle it is even more severe. Applicants' springy structure 127 helpsreduce shock to the afflicted limb. The tapered springy structure 127 isdesigned so that the high stresses occur away from the point offixation, at the adjacent vertical web 109, which is a potential stressconcentrator at an inherently weak point on a constant-sectioncantilever.

The multi-cell/box structure of the sole portion 123, as shown in FIGS.7 and 9 is inherently different from the single-plate/multi-web designdescribed in the Mauldin U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,169 (see FIG. 4 of same).The Mauldin '169 plate is referred to as "an imperforate bottom wall",and the webs as "a side wall . . . around the periphery . . . and aplurality of . . . (longitudinal and transverse) ribs" (Col. 3, lines29-36). Applicant's design consists of two substantially imperforateplates top 115 and bottom 117) and vertical webs 109 separating the twoplates 115 and 117, resulting in four closed box structures, in additionto the cantilevered rear structure is important to note that the Mauldin'169 design has a single plate while Applicants, box design has twoplates 115 and 117.

A box beam is structurally superior to a single plate and webs. Bysuperior it is meant that less material is required to achieve the samestiffness, strength and structural stability; less material means lowerweight and cost. A box structure is better than a plate/web system underflexure (bending) because more material is located away from the neutralaxis (centerline) where the stresses are low. A structure is mostefficient when all of the material is stressed to the same level; for abeam this means the material is all the same distance from the neutralaxis. While not all the material can be away from the neutral axis, thatnear it can be minimized. A common I-beam is based on this principle; ifan I-beam's vertical web is divided in half and moved to the edges ofthe plates, a box results. A plate/web system is more like ageneralization of a T-section. A box structure under a torsion load(twisting) is vastly superior because the open side of the plate/webstructure is free to distort and allows the whole beam to twist. This isreadily seen by grasping the manufactured article and twisting it. Atube is best for taking torsion loads along its axis; a closed box cantake them from any direction. Note that while a common I-beam is roughlyequivalent to a box beam for flexural loads, the box beam is superior intaking a torsional load. The conclusion is that for mixed loading, towhich the present walker is subjected, the box beam is structurally themost efficient configuration.

In the present invention, the two-piece construction of the sole 25 isnecessary if the closed-cell structure is to be employed; a plate/webtype of structure can be readily molded in one piece. The closed-cellsare formed by molding two portions and joining them into one closedcell. The plate/web structure, as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings,can be viewed as one half of a multi-cell structure. It should be notedthat "closed" in a structural sense does not imply air-tightness; allthat is required is loads be effectively transferred at the interface.

The upper plate 115, as shown in FIG. 2, of the sole 25 portion, due tothe closed-cell type of structure, is smooth and ready to accept a footinsole cushion 200 and the patient's foot pressure. On the other hand,the plate and rib system requires an additional piece of smooth plasticover the exposed ribs before the foam and foot may be applied, Adescription of this extra element is set forth at Col. 4 line 6 et. seq.of the Mauldin '169 patent, and it is understood that in the itemmanufactured under U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,169 the extra piece of smoothplastic must be set into place.

Therefore, the full-length sole 25 construction of the present inventionis more practical, from a manufacturing and economic standpoint sinceless material is needed to manufacture the sole 25. For purposes of thepresent invention, it will be understood that the term "full-lengthsole" as used herein and in the appended claims refers broadly to anystructure which supports and receives a substantial portion of the soleof a foot.

As shown in FIG. 3, the manner in which the injured limb is supported isby first inserting the foot and lower leg extremity into a resilient,and adjustable lightweight ankle bootie 150. The bootie 150 is comprisedof a soft goods-type of material, such as a SPANDEX-covered tricot,foam, or neoprene, and is able to receive a wide range of leg and footsizes. The height of the bootie 150 extends a distance to a pointpreferably above the ankle. This thickness of the bootie 150 is about1/16" to 3/8" thick. The bootie is also covered with a VELCRO hookreceivable material 15, i.e., brushed nylon. A pair of bladders 152which may be inflated with gas or billed with fluid, may be mounted onthe inner side walls of the ankle bootie 150 by means of a VELCRO hookfabric 154 covering the surface of the bladders 152 attached to theinner surface of the bootie 150 and juxtaposed to the injured limb orjoint. In addition, the ankle bootie 150 includes a plurality of VELCROhook fabric straps 164 which can be tightly wrapped around the injuredlimb and connected to the outer VELCRO hook receivable covering 15 ofthe bootie 150. The outer side walls of the bootie 150, also shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, each include a pocket or pouch 158. These pockets 158 aresubstantially long enough to receive a splint material 160 andsufficient to prevent any substantial flexion which may hinder theproper and rapid healing of the ankle. In one preferred embodiment apocket 158 is provided on the outer left side and on the outer rightside of the bootie 150. A molded, rigid lightweight splint material 160,such as plastic, is fully received into each pocket 158 and closed offby a VELCRO hook fabric flap 162 which is located on the uppermost openend of each pocket 158 to prevent the splints 160 from leaving theirrespective pockets.

In an alternative embodiment relating to preventing inversion andeversion of the ankle while received in the bootie, the pouches 158 maycontain a water permeable matrix impregnated with a water-activatedhardenable material. This water-activated hardenable material ispreferably comprised of a urethane impregnated substrate. To activatethis water hardenable material, a predetermined quantity of water isinjected into the pouch 158 via water inlet ports. Once the water reactswith the water hardenable material the entire urethane compound hardens.This embodiment is set forth in detail in Grim, U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,557.In the latter embodiment, it is necessary for the lower leg extremity tobe tightly secured and enveloped within the bootie 150 at the time ofwater activation, so that the hardened splint conforms to the patient'sanatomy.

While the lower leg extremity is supported by the bootie 150, additionalsupport is provided by the inflatable bladders 152. Even though any typeof resilient material may be used within the bladders 152, it ispreferred that bladders 152 which can be filled with gas or fluid, beused.

Once the foot is tightly enclosed within the ankle bootie 150, and thesplinting arrangements activated, if used, the bladders 152 are inflatedwith air until a comfortable, yet trim fit results around the injuredlimb. The preferred means for inflating the bladders 152 is by a hollowtube 166 is securely inserted into a port opening 168 in the bladder.Subsequently, a hollow resilient pump bulb 169 is attached to the openend of the hollow tube 166 and squeezed a number of times to achieve thedesired amount of inflation and support. A preferred embodiment of theinvention is that the bootie 150 includes two inflatable bladderchambers 152 separated by seams 180 to prevent inflation pressure alongthe sole and heel of the foot. The bladders 152 are constructed of aresilient material, such as SPANDEX with a urethane laminate coating onthe inside therein. A urethane bladder with tricot material facing theankle could also be used.

With regard to the bladders to be mounted within the bootie, andadjacent to the skin, it is preferable that the bladders be formed of asmooth knit material such as a fabric made up of nylon and LYCRA on theoutside, and a thin layer or film of plastic material such as urethane,on the inside. One bladder laminate which operated successfully includeda fabric about 15 millimeters thick and a urethane film about 11/2millimeters thick, with the film being bonded to the fabric by anadhesive such as an ethyl vinyl alcohol adhesive having a copolymerresin base. Of course the materials and thicknesses may be variedsignificantly from this operative example.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an alternative embodiment with regard to thedesign of the bladders 152 which are mounted within the bootie 150. Inthis embodiment, the bladder is constructed of three layers of plasticwelded to form one unit consisting of two separate chambers, 155, 157.The first chamber lies adjacent to the patient's skin and will receivehot or cold fluids for therapy. Hot/cold therapy is advantageous in thehealing process since it reduces swelling of the injured limb and itreduces the degree in which the injured limb may atrophy by promotingimproved blood circulation throughout the lower leg. The first chamber155 includes a fluid entrance port 165 located at the top of the firstchamber 155. The fluid entrance port 165 allows for a fluid to besupplied throughout the first chamber 155. Even though any number offluids may be supplied into the first chamber 155, it is preferable thatwater be used. Located at the bottom portion of the first chamber 155 isan exit valve with a drain clamp 167. The exit valve 167 allows thepatient to drain and remove the fluid from the first chamber 155. Thepurpose of the second chamber 157 is to support and stabilize theinjured ankle of the patient by adjustably inflating the second chamber157 with air. The second chamber includes a hollow air input tube 166which is located at the top of the second chamber 157 and is securelyinserted into a port opening 168 at the top of the second chamber 157.Subsequently, a hollow resilient pump bulb 169 is attached to the openend of the hollow air input tube 166 and is squeezed a number of timesto achieve the desired amount of inflation and support. The secondchamber 157 is provided with a valve arrangement for retaining air inthe second chamber 157 and for selective deflation. Furthermore, whennot inflated, the second chamber 157 may have a resilient material (forexample, foam) inside it for additional cushioning.

The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B are not to be limitedexclusively to the bladders 152 within the ankle bootie 150. All otherbladders set forth in the present invention may be similarlyconstructed.

Also, if desired a resilient gel or foam padding may be alternativelyused in place of the bladders 152 for support and cushioning of theinjured limb.

Once the injured limb is properly supported and secured within the anklebootie 150 it may then be received with the soft goods-type support 13,as shown in FIG. 6. The soft goods-type support 13 then extends aroundthe injured limb and bootie 150 and is tightly secured by affixing oneedge of the soft goods-type outer covering with the strip of VELCRO hookfabric 19 to the outer surface of the mating edge of soft goods-typesupport 13, with the tongue 17 juxtaposed to the front of the bootie150. The VELCRO strap members 31, 33, 35, 37, and 39 when securedprovide additional tightness and support. In addition, the insideportion of each strut 21 is lined with a strip of VELCRO hook material22 (shown in FIG. 2) further securing the soft goods type of support tothe walker frame 29. The inner surface of the tongue 17 may be coveredwith an adjustable, inflatable bladder 71 which is approximately 16"long and 4" wide. A portion of the inflatable bladder 71 is covered witha VELCRO hook fabric 72 and secured to the VELCRO hook receivablematerial 15 covering the inside surface of the tongue 17. This VELCROarrangement allows the bladder 71 to be adjusted accordingly along thetongue 17 to each patient's therapeutic needs. The bladder 71 has a port73 for tightly receiving a hollow tube 74. A variety of devices may beused to supply air through the hollow tube 74 and into the bladder 71.Preferably a flexible bulb pump 169 is attached to the free open end ofthe hollow tube 74 for supplying air into the bladder 71 by hand. Thebladder 71 is constructed of a relatively airtight and resilientmaterial, preferably SPANDEX with an inner urethane laminate. Valvearrangements are provided for retaining air in the bladders 30, 71, 152and for selective deflation. In another embodiment, a resilient supportmember 75 may be affixed to the inside surface of the soft goods-typesupport 13, substantially surrounding the ankle of the patient. Thisresilient support member 75 may consist of inflatable bladder which issimilar in construction and shape to the bladder 30 adjacent to theraised heel strip member 43. The resilient support member 75 includesVELCRO hook fabric material 77, enabling it to attach to the softgoods-type support 13.

The leg walker 11 has a series of bladders 30, 71 and 152 along with asoft goods-type support 13 that extends below the knee in order toprovide an embodiment whereby swelling of the disabled or injured limbis minimized. This embodiment of the bladder arrangements of the presentankle walker 11 allows the muscles in the lower leg to more easilyreturn the patient,s bodily fluids from the lower leg back towards theheart. Conversely, the prior art devices, such as a plaster cast, mayhinder the proper circulation of blood throughout the lower leg andoften cause injury of the lower leg extremity. In an alternateembodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, the sides of the soft goods-typesupport may include pouches 80 into which rigid splints 81 may be eitherpermanently or removably received. The pouches 80 may be located eitheron the inside or outside surfaces of the soft goods-type support 13 andextend vertically a substantial distance along both sides of the lowerleg. The splints 81 may either be made of a preformed, lightweight andrigid plastic material, or contain an embodiment relating to theprevention of any substantial dorsi or plantar flexion and any inversionand eversion of the patient,s ankle, wherein pouches 158 along the sidewalls of the soft goods may contain a water permeable matrix impregnatedwith a water hardenable material; a similar embodiment is mentionedabove for preventing any substantial flexion of the ankle while theinjured limb is supported by the ankle bootie 150.

After the ankle bootie 150 and the soft goods-type support 13 areinitially secured around the injured patient's lower leg extremity andsecured to the walker frame 29, the foot cushion insole 200 may then beactivated to conform to the patient's sole. FIGS. 11 and 11A set forthone embodiment illustrating the design of the foot cushion 200. Thecushion 200 includes at least one elongated pouch 202 containing a waterpermeable matrix 204 impregnated with a water-activated resilientmaterial. The water-activated resilient material may be composed of anycompound which reacts with water to provide a resilient product. Forexample, HYPOL may be used as the water-activated resilient material. Anexternal port member 206, located at the rear of the pouch 202, allowsfor water to be supplied throughout the elongated pouch so as toactivate the water resilient material. The external port 206 may includea valve arrangement for retaining the water and water-activatedresilient material within the pouch 202. The pouch 202 must besubstantially airtight so as to prevent any leakage. Other types of solecushions, such as a resilient and durable foam or other water injectablecomponents that will produce a resilient surface, may be substituted. Inthe present invention, sole cushion 200 arrangement and its variationsthereof, however, are intended to provide maximum comfort of thepatient.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate alternative embodiments with respect toproviding a splinting means for the ankle bootie 150 and soft goods-typesupport 13, respectively.

In FIG. 13, the ankle bootie 150 includes a pair of rigid splints 170,172 which are fixed to the outer left side surface of the ankle bootie150. An additional pair of splints may be fixed on the opposite outsidesurface of the ankle bootie 150. Splint 170 is substantially vertical,and extend along the lower leg. This splint 170 is securely attached bya hinge 174 to splint 172, which is substantially horizontal and extendsalong the side of the foot. A similar splint arrangement may be presenton the opposite side of the ankle bootie 150. The splints 170, 172 areconstructed of a lightweight and durable material, preferably a rigidplastic. Each splint 170, 172 is substantially and securely encased in,and received by, separate fabric envelopes or pouches 176, 178,respectively, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15. It is preferable that onlythe hinge members 174 remains exposed and uncovered by the envelopes176, 178.

The back side of each envelope 176, 178 is substantially covered with astrip of VELCRO hook fabric 182. The VELCRO hook fabric 182 must belocated on the same side of each envelope 176, 178 in order to securelyand adjustably mount the envelope-VELCRO arrangement on the outsidesurface of the ankle bootie 150 which is covered with a VELCRO-hookreceivable material 15. The envelopes 176, 178 are constructed of adurable and lightweight material, preferably vinyl. The VELCRO materialcould be secured directly to the hinged splints, as an alternative.

The hinge arrangement 174 for the splints 170, 172 is more clearlyillustrated in FIG. 15. Splint 170 has a hole 173 located near itsbottom end, and splint 172 has a hole 175 located near the upper end ofthe dog-leg configuration. The splints 170, 172 are hinged together bylining up the holes 173 and 175, next to each other, and subsequentlysecuring a rivet or pin 181 through the holes, thereby permanentlyattaching splint 170 to splint 72. The hinge arrangement 174 allows thesplints 170, 72 to pivot about one another.

The aforementioned hinge-splint embodiment allows the patient to removehis or her leg from the rigid leg walker 11 and the soft good-typesupport 13 while it remains secured within the bootie 150, and gentlyexercise the ankle through a controlled range of motion (inversion andeversion), thus preventing the ankle from freezing in a 90 degree angle.This practice will be performed during recovery, as permitted by healingof the injury. Furthermore, the ease in which the patient may flex hisankle and foot may be regulated accordingly by simply adjusting thetightness or looseness of the fasteners 181.

In this regard, the hinge and fastener may be of a type which providesadjustable force for rotation, and a limited angle of rotation.

FIG. 14 illustrates a hinge-splint arrangement for the soft goods-typesupport 13. This arrangement is similar to the hinge-splint arrangementof the ankle bootie (see FIGS. 13 and 15), except that the splints 190,192 of the soft goods-type support may be longer than the ankle bootiesplints 170, 172. Also, to accommodate the longer splints 190, 192 ofthe soft goods-type support 13, it is necessary that the envelopes orpouches 196, 198 be long enough to receive a substantial portion of thesplints 190, 192, respectively. Otherwise, the hinge-splint arrangementof the soft goods type-support 13 may be substantially the same as thehinge-splint arrangement, as discussed above, of the ankle bootie 150(see FIG. 15).

Alternatively, the hinge-splint arrangements for both the ankle bootie152 and soft goods-type support 13 may be mounted and hidden within theankle bootie 150 and soft goods-type support 13 fabric, in a permanentor removable fashion. A few modifications regarding this alternativeembodiment must be taken into account. For example, the back side of theenvelopes 176, 178, 196, 198 should not be covered with the VELCRO hookfabric 182 and the presence of the envelopes 176, 178, 196, 198themselves, may not be necessary in this alternative embodiment.

As noted above, the hinge-splint arrangements will normally only bepracticed during the latter stages of recovery in order to facilitatethe healing process and mobility of the joint.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description of theaccompanying drawings shall relate to preferred and illustratedembodiments of the invention. Various modifications may be employedwithout departing from the sphere and the scope of the invention. Forexample, instead of an inflatable bladder through which a fluid, such asair, may be received, it is anticipated that a completely sealed bladderinflated with air, or filled with a gel, to a pre-determined internalpressure prior to bracing the patient's leg with the present invention.Similarly, instead of using fastening members made from VELCRO fasteningmaterial, other conventional fastening devices may be employed to securethe bootie around the ankle, or the soft goods-type support around theleg, or the soft goods-type support to the walker frame.

Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to that preciselyshown and described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walker assemblyfor treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the lowertibia and/or fibula comprising:a full-length sole; a pair of rigid, orsemi-rigid parallel strut members extending substantially vertically andupwardly from said sole to just below the knee; a durable and resilientsoft support for extending around the injured limb or joint and aroundthe lower leg and foot; means for securing said soft support around saidlower leg and foot; a plurality of fastening members for securing saidsoft support to said struts and said sole; a removable, lightweight andflexible ankle bootie which is received into said soft support forproviding additional support to said ankle and foot; a raised stripmember surrounding the heel of the patient; a shock-absorbing memberlocated at the heel portion of said sole; said sole including acantilevered shock absorbing means at the rear thereof; and a pluralityof resilient bladder support means mounted within said walker assemblyfor cushioning and stabilizing said limb or joint.
 2. A leg walker asdefined in claim 1 wherein said sole is constructed of a glass fiberreinforced mylon materials.
 3. A leg walker as defined in claim 1wherein said sole consists of two halves securely joined together alonga vertical plane extending from the center of the front of said sole tothe center of the rear of said sole.
 4. A leg walker as defined in claim3 wherein said sole consists of an upper and a lower sole plate andvertical webs separating said plates, forming a plurality of closed boxstructures.
 5. A leg walker as defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom ofsaid sole has substantially continuous curvature.
 6. A leg walker asdefined in claim 5 wherein the bottom of said sole is completely coveredwith and protected by a durable gripping material.
 7. A leg walker asdefined in claim 1 wherein said soft support includes a tongue membermounted to engage the top of the foot and shin.
 8. A leg walker asdefined in claim 7 wherein said soft support and said tongue member isconstructed of a resilient, foam and fabric material.
 9. A leg walker asdefined in claim 8 wherein said soft support and said tongue member iscovered with a hook receivable securing fabric.
 10. A leg walker asdefined in claim 9 wherein fine hook securing fabric means area locatedalong an inner surface of one of the mating edges of said soft support.11. A leg walker as defined in claim 10 wherein said soft support issecured around said injured limb or joint by folding said tongue memberover and around the upper surface of the foot and shin and subsequentlyfolding said fine hook securing fabric means of said soft support oversaid tongue member and connecting said fine hook securing fabric meansto the outside surface of said soft support of said tongue member.
 12. Aleg walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said strut members comprise:apair of parallel rigid strut base members extending vertically andupwardly from said sole; a pair of parallel and vertical splintattachments extending from said strut base members to just below theknee.
 13. A leg walker as defined in claim 12 where in said splintattachments are secured to said strut base members by connecting themwith metal pins and sonically welding said splint attachments to saidstrut base members.
 14. A leg walker as defined in claim 1 wherein saidfastening members are provided with mating fine hook and loop-typefastening material for adjustably securing said soft support to saidstruts.
 15. A leg walker as defined in claim 12 wherein said strut basemembers include integrally molded slots for receiving said fasteningmembers.
 16. A leg walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said anklebootie includes a plurality of fastening members for securing saidbootie around the injured limb or joint.
 17. A leg walker as defined inclaim 1 wherein said resilient bladder support means includes aninflatable/deflatable bladder being formed of a laminate having an outersurface of a thin, smooth stretchable knit fabric, and an inner filmbonded with an adhesive to said fabric.
 18. A leg walker as defined inclaim 17 wherein said soft support includes an adjustable andinflatable/deflatable bladder support means adjacent to the heel andankle of the patient.
 19. A leg walker as defined in claim 17 whereinsaid inner surface of said raised strip member, and a portion of theinner surface of said strut members, from the sole to just above theankle, include an adjustable and inflatable/deflatable bladder supportmeans.
 20. A leg walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilientbladder support means are inflatable and deflatable.
 21. A leg walker asdefined in claim 20 wherein said resilient bladder support means beingformed of a laminate, having an outer surface of a thin, smooth,stretchable knit fabric, and an inner thin film bonded by an adhesive tosaid fabric.
 22. A leg walker as defined in claim 20 having aninflatable/deflatable bladder support means mounted to the inner surfaceof said raised strip member and a portion of the inner surface of saidsplint members, from the sole to just above the ankle.
 23. A leg walkeras defined in claim 20 having said inflatable/deflatable bladder supportmeans affixed to the inner surface of said ankle bootie.
 24. A legwalker as defined in claim 20 having said inflatable/deflatable bladdersupport means affixed to the inner surface of said soft support,adjacent to the ankle of the patient.
 25. A leg walker as defined inclaim 9 wherein said inflatable/deflatable bladder support meanssubstantially covers and is affixed to the inside surface of said tonguemember.
 26. A leg walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said ankle bootieincludes a first elongated, vertical pouch juxtaposed to the outsidesurface of the left side of said ankle bootie, and a second elongatedvertical pouch juxtaposed to the outside surface of the right side ofsaid ankle bootie, and said ankle bootie included a first and secondrigid splint member mounted with said first and second pouches.
 27. Aleg walker as defined in claim 26 wherein said first and second rigidsplint members are constructed of a rigid and lightweight plasticmaterial.
 28. A leg walker as defined in claim 26 wherein said rigidsplint members are created by an activatable hardenable material.
 29. Aleg walker as defined in claim 1 wherein said sole is provided with araised strip member extending around the heel and constructed of aresilient material.
 30. A prefabricated orthopedic leg walker assemblyfor treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the lowertibia and/or fibula comprising:a full-length sole; a pair of rigid,parallel strut members extending substantially vertically and upwardlyfrom said sole to just below the knee; a durable and resilient softsupport means for extending around and restricting the motion of saidlower leg and foot; a plurality of fastening members for securing saidsoft support means to said struts and said sole; and a resilient,removable, lightweight and flexible ankle bootie which is received intosaid soft support means, including means for providing additionalsupport to said ankle and foot.
 31. A leg walker as defined in claim 30further including a plurality of resilient bladder support means mountedwithin said walker assembly for cushioning and stabilizing said limb orjoint.
 32. A leg walker as defined in claim 30 wherein entire exteriorsurface of said soft support means is covered with a hook-receivablesecuring material.
 33. A leg walker as defined in claim 30 wherein saidsoft support means is approximately 3/8 thick.
 34. A leg walker asdefined in claim 31 wherein said resilient bladder support means areconstructed of an elastic material with a urethane laminate.
 35. A legwalker as defined in claim 31 wherein said bladder support means arelocated on the inside surface of said ankle bootie, juxtaposed to theinjured limb or joint.
 36. A leg walker as defined in claim 31 whereinsaid bladder support means include a hook and loop type fabric means forsecuring and properly aligning said bladder support member to saidinside surface of said ankle bootie.
 37. A leg walker as defined inclaim 35 wherein said bladder support means include at least twoinflatable chambers separated by a seam to prevent inflation pressurealong the sole and heel of the foot.
 38. A leg walker as defined inclaim 32 wherein said fastening members include a fine hook materialmeans for securely attaching to said hook receivable securing materialcovering said soft support means.
 39. A leg walker as defined in claim31 wherein said bladder support means comprises:three layers of plasticwelded to form one unit consisting of a first separate chamber and asecond separate chamber; said first chamber lies adjacent to thepatient's skin and receives hot or cold fluids for therapy; said firstchamber having an upper one-way entrance port; said first chamber havinga lower exit valve allowing for said fluids to drain out of said firstchamber; said exit valve having a drain clamp; said second chamber beingair inflatable; means for supplying said fluids into said first chamberand for draining said fluids from said first chamber.
 40. A leg walkeras defined in claim 39 wherein said fluid is received through saidentrance port and drained at the bottom of said second chamber via saidexit valve upon loosening said drain clamp.
 41. A leg walker as definedin claim 39 wherein said second chamber houses an elongated foam memberfor providing the patient with additional cushioning when said firstchamber is not inflated.
 42. A prefabricated orthopedic leg walker fortreatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the tibia andfibula comprising:a full-length sole consisting of upper and lower soleplates and substantially vertical webs permanently mounting and securingsaid plates together, and forming a plurality of box structures; saidsole being formed of a rigid and lightweight material; said verticalwebs interconnecting and permanently securing said upper and lower soleplates together; a pair or rigid, or semi-rigid parallel strut membersextending upward from said sole; a durable and resilient soft, paddedand flexible support means for extending around the injured limb orjoint and for extending around the lower leg below the knee and aroundthe ankle and foot; means for securing said soft support to said strutmembers; and means for holding said support means onto the lower leg,ankle and foot independent of the remainder of said walker, whereby saidsupport means may be separated from the remainder of said walker whenthe patient is reclining.
 43. A leg walker as defined in claim 42wherein said sole is constructed of a durable and lightweight glassfiber reinforced nylon material.
 44. A leg walker as defined in claim 42wherein said sole includes a first and a second recess located on theleft and right sides, respectively, of said sole.
 45. A leg walker asdefined in claim 44 wherein said vertical webs are absent at the heelportion of said sole, to provide a resilient cantilevered rear heelarea.
 46. A leg walker as defined in claim 42 wherein said upper andlower plates along with said vertical webs separate said upper and lowerplates resulting in at least four box structures.
 47. A leg walker asdefined in claim 42 wherein said parallel strut members are parallel andadjacent to the left and right sides of the lower leg extremities.
 48. Aleg walker as defined in claim 42 wherein said parallel struts eachinclude an integrally molded slot for receiving a strap across thedorsum, or instep, used to pull the foot down against said sole.
 49. Aleg walker as defined in claim 42 wherein said sole includes a footcushion insole lying between the foot and the top of said sole.
 50. Aleg walker as defined in claim 42 wherein said continuous upper plate isgenerally planar.
 51. A leg walker as defined in claim 42 wherein saidcontinuous lower plate has a continuous curvature.
 52. A leg walker asdefined in claim 49 wherein said foot cushion insole includes at leastone elongated pouch containing a water permeable matrix impregnated witha water activatable resilient formable material.
 53. A leg walker asdefined in claim 52 further comprising an external port means forsupplying water throughout said elongated pouch so to activate saidwater resilient activatable formable material.
 54. A leg walker asdefined in claim 52 wherein said pouch is substantially airtight.
 55. Aleg walker as defined in claim 42 wherein said lower plate includes atextured rubber outer sole which lies between said lower plate and theground.
 56. A leg walker as defined in claim 42 wherein said footcushion insole is constructed of a resilient material which conformswith the shape of the sole of a foot.
 57. A prefabricated orthopaedicleg walker for treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of thetibia and fibula comprising:a full-length sole consisting of upper andlower plates and means for permanently mounting and securing said platestogether in a spaced-apart configuration; a shock absorbing memberlocated at heel portion of said sole, said member including acantilevered springy rear extended portion of said lower sole plate; adurable and resilient soft support for extending around the injured limbor joint and for extending from just below the knee around the lower legand foot; means for securing said soft support to said sole; and saidcantilevered rear portion of said sole including a resilient insertreceived between said upper and lower sole plates.
 58. A leg walker asdefined in claim 57 wherein said resilient insert is constructed of afoam material.
 59. A leg walker as defined in claim 57 wherein saidresilient insert is constructed of a gel material.
 60. A leg walker asdefined in claim 57 said sole is constructed from a glass reinforcednylon fiber material.
 61. A leg walker as defined in claim 57 whereinsaid rear extended portion of said lower sole plate is less rigid thansaid upper sole plate.
 62. A leg walker as defined in claim 57 whereinthe distance between the rear ends of said upper and said lower soleplates is approximately 3/8 inches.
 63. A leg walker as defined in claim57 wherein said cantileverd springy rear extended portion extends adistance approximately 2 inches from said heel area of the said soleportion toward the front of said sole portion and has a width ofapproximately 4 to 5 inches.
 64. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walkerfor treatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the tibia andfibula comprising:a full-length sole consisting of upper and lower soleplates and substantially vertical webs separating said plates forming aplurality of closed box structures; said vertical webs interconnectingand permanently securing said upper and lower sole plates together; ashock absorbing member located at heel portion of said sole, said memberincluding a cantilevered springy rear extended portion of said lowersole plate; a pair of rigid, parallel strut base members verticallyextending above the ankle; said rigid strut base members being molded toopposite sides of said sole; a pair of rigid, parallel struts affixed tosaid strut base members, vertically extending to just below the knee; adurable and resilient soft padded and flexible support means forextending around the injured limb or join and for extending below theknee and around the lower leg and foot extremities; and a plurality offastening members for securing said soft support to said struts and saidsole.
 65. A leg walker as defined in claim 64 wherein said first andsecond vertical strut members are slightly flexible at the top toaccommodate a wide range of leg sizes.
 66. A leg walker as defined inclaim 64 wherein said first and second vertical strut members arecantilever beams subjected to flexure and torsion loads.
 67. A legwalker as defined in claim 64 wherein said first and second verticalstrut members are constructed from a glass fiber reinforced nylonmaterial.
 68. A leg walker as defined in claim 64 wherein said first andsecond vertical strut members upwardly extend a distance approximatelyequal to where the lower most area of the popliteal space lies.
 69. Aleg walker as defined in claim 64 wherein said first and second verticalstruts are securely affixed to said first and second vertical and rigidstrut bases, respectively, with a long-lasting, heavy duty adhesive. 70.A leg walker as defined in claim 64 wherein said fastening memberscomprises:a plurality of strap means for connection between alignedpoints on said strut members to secure said strut members to the calf ofthe patient.
 71. An orthopaedic device comprising:outer support meansfor limiting the movement of a limb, joint or other portion of theanatomy; an inner inflatable bladder mounted within said support meansfor engaging the skin of the patient and for providing additionalsupport; said bladder being formed of a laminate, having an outersurface of a thin, smooth, stretchable knit fabric for engaging the skinof the patient, and an inner thin plastic film bonded by an adhesive tosaid fabric; and said outer support means including a full length sole,and a pair of rigid or semi-rigid strut members extending substantiallyvertically and upwardly from said sole to just below the knee, forpreventing significant movement of the ankle of the user.
 72. Anorthopaedic device as defined in claim 71 wherein said bladder supportmeans is inflated by supplying air into an inlet valve.
 73. Anorthopaedic device as defined in claim 71 wherein said bladder supportmeans comprises:three layers of plastic welded to form one unitconsisting of a first separate chamber and a second separate chamber;said first chamber lies adjacent to the patient's skin and receives hotor cold fluids for therapy; said first chamber having an upper one-wayentrance port; said first chamber having a lower exit valve allowing forsaid fluids to drain out of said first chamber; said exit valve having adrain clamp; said second chamber being air inflatable; means forsupplying said fluids into said first chamber and for drawing saidfluids from said first chamber.
 74. An orthopaedic device as defined inclaim 73 wherein said fluid is received through said entrance port anddrained at the bottom of said second chamber via said exit valve uponloosening said drain clamp.
 75. An orthopaedic device as defined inclaim 73 wherein said second chamber houses an elongated foam member forproviding the patient with additional cushioning when said first chamberis not inflated.
 76. A prefabricated orthopaedic leg walker fortreatment of ankle and foot injuries and fractures of the tibia andfibula comprising:a full-length sole; a pair of rigid, or semi-rigid,substantially parallel strut members extending upwardly from said sole;a durable and resilient adjustable soft padded and flexible support forextending around the injured limb or joint and for extending below theknee and around the lower leg and foot; a plurality of fastening membersfor securing said soft support to said struts and said sole; bladdermeans for cushioning, stabilizing and further supporting said limb orjoint; and means for mounting said bladder support means within saidsoft support.
 77. A leg walker as defined in claim 76 wherein saidbladder support means is inflated by supplying air into an inlet valveleading into said bladder support means.
 78. A leg walker as defined inclaim 76 wherein said bladder support means comprises:three layers ofplastic welded to form one unit consisting of a first separate chamberand a second separate chamber; said first chamber lies adjacent to thepatient's skin and receives hot or cold fluids for therapy; said firstchamber having an upper one-way entrance port; said first chamber havinga lower exit valve allowing for said fluids to drain out of said firstchamber; said exit valve having a drain clamp; said second chamber beingair inflatable; means for supplying said fluids into said first chamberand for drawing said fluids from said first chamber.
 79. A leg walker asdefined in claim 78 wherein said fluid is received through said entranceport and drained at the bottom of said second chamber via said exitvalve upon loosening said drain clamp.
 80. A leg walker as defined inclaim 78 wherein said second chamber houses an elongated foam member forproviding the patient with additional cushioning when said first chamberis not inflated.
 81. A leg walker as defined in claim 76 wherein saidbladder is formed of a laminate, having an outer surface of a thin,smooth, stretchable knit fabric, and an inner thin film bonded by anadhesive to said fabric.
 82. A leg walker as defined in claim 76 whereinthe outer surface of said soft goods-type support is covered with a finehook receivable securing material.
 83. A leg walker as defined in claim82 wherein the outer surface of said bladder support means areadequately covered with fine hook securing fabric for mounting saidbladder support means within said soft goods-type support.
 84. Aprefabricated orthopaedic leg walker for treatment of ankle and footinjuries and fractures of the tibia and fibual comprising:a full-lengthsole; a pair of rigid, parallel strut base members extending upwardlyfrom said sole; resilient flexible support means for extending aroundthe injured ankle or foot; means for mounting said support means withinsaid struts and said sole; a plurality of substantially inflexiblesplinting members; and means for mounting said splinting membersdirectly to said flexible support means independently of said struts toform a separate sub-assembly including said flexible support means withsaid splinting members attached thereto which sub-assembly may beseparated from the remainder of said walker; whereby said flexiblesupport means may be used separately from said struts and sole, withsaid splinting members providing limited motion restraint.
 85. A legwalker as defined in claim 84 wherein each said splinting memberarrangement comprises:an upper vertical splinting member; a lowerhorizontal splinting member; a hinge member for securing said uppervertical and lower horizontal splinting members; and means for securingupper and lower splinting members to the side of said flexible supportmeans.
 86. A leg walker as defined in claim 85 wherein said uppervertical splinting member and said lower horizontal splinting membersare housed in separate pouches, the back sides of which are covered withsecuring means of fine hook and loop-type material.
 87. A leg walker asdefined in claim 86 wherein said pouches are constructed of vinylmaterial.
 88. A leg walker as defined in claim 84, wherein saidresilient flexible support means is secured directly to said struts. 89.A leg walker as defined in claim 84 wherein said resilient flexiblesupport means is a bootie; and wherein an additional soft goods-typesupport is provided, said soft goods-type support being directly securedto said struts and enclosing said bootie.
 90. A prefabricatedorthopaedic leg walker assembly for treatment of ankle and foot injuriesand fractures of the tibia and fibula, comprising:a rigid, full-lengthsole; said sole having an upper sole plate and a lower sole plate; saidupper and lower sole plates being separated and permanently securedtogether by vertical integral webs, forming a plurality of closed boxstructures; the top of said upper sole plate being covered withcushioning material; the bottom of said lower sole plate having asubstantial curvature; said bottom of said lower sole plate beingcovered with a durable gripping material; a raised strip member mountedon said sole at the heel of a patient; the rear of said upper sole plateand the rear of said lower sole plate forming a cantilevered springyshock absorbing member; a pair of rigid parallel strut base membersvertically extending from said sole to just above the ankle; said strutbase members being integrally molded to opposite sides of said sole; apair of rigid parallel struts affixed to said strut base members,vertically extending along the sides of the lower leg to just below theknee; said struts, strut bases and sole being constructed of highstrength plastic material; a durable and resilient foam fabric softsupport for extending around the entire injured limb or joint and forextending below the knee for bracing and stabilizing the lower leg,ankle and foot; said soft support having a resilient tongue member;means for securing said soft support around the entire injured limb orjoint; and a plurality of fastening members for securing said softgoods-type support to said struts and said sole.
 91. A prefabricatedorthopaedic leg walker for treatment of ankle and foot injuries andfractures of the tibia and fibula comprising:a full-length sole; a pairor rigid, or semi-rigid, substantially parallel strut members extendingupwardly from said sole; a durable and resilient adjustable soft paddedand flexible support for extending around the injured limb or joint andfor extending below the knee and around the lower leg and foot; aplurality of fastening members for securing said soft support to saidstruts and said sole; bladder means for cushioning, stabilizing andfurther supporting said limb or joint; and means for mounting saidbladder support means within said walker to supplement the function ofsaid soft support.